Page 5 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - March - April 2020

5

Determined officer follows family tradition

By Frazier Myer Department. Artisia, New Mexico, each officer jobs, even working alongside
Potts was has to be stunned with a Taser General Manager Misty Secena.
After nearly two years of following in gun to prepare for serving in the She used the opportunity
experience with the staff, Alicia her father’s line of duty and to graduate the to meet people and become
Potts was finally sworn in to the footsteps and academy. When it was Potts’ turn, more involved. She was
Chehalis Tribe Public Safety planned to lace the shock dislocated one of her constantly attending events and
Department as a Lieutenant up the boots just legs and snapped her hip bone. volunteering whenever the tribe
Corrections Officer on March 3. like the recently Emergency surgery involved needed assistance.
Suquamish tribal member Alicia retired Mason putting pins in to help hold the Chief of Police Kelly
Alicia Potts-Lawson – better Potts County Sherriff. bone in place. It unfortunately Edwards and Jail Manager
known just by her maiden name “I’m a typical never healed and required a Scott Williams witnessed her
“Potts” – is a familiar name daddy’s little girl,” Potts said. complete hip replacement. The commitment. Potts thanks
within the department. She has She would even walk around recovery process took more than them for the mentorship they
become known and respected the house acting like a police six months. provided and for giving her the
on the Chehalis Reservation officer and explained that she Potts was informed that opportunity to remain in law
because of her involvement with has many other family members because of the damage done to enforcement.
the community and tribal staff serving in law enforcement her hip, her dreams of becoming Prior to coming to the tribe,
during the recent years. around the state. a patrol officer would be put Potts was a certified corrections
Along with her standout Initially, she started out on hold, possibly indefinitely. deputy working at the Mason
personality, Potts also has a with the tribe working toward However, the Chehalis Tribe County Jail, which made her
story that happened during becoming a full-fledged patrol didn’t give up on her. In a sense, qualified when a lieutenant
police academy that stands out officer. That plan was altered she was already an adopted position opened up with the jail.
as well. when she required emergency member of the community. Although she aspired to
Her story involves a freak surgery after the mandatory Once she was able to return work out in the field like her
accident that prolonged her Taser course in police academy. to work, Potts was limited and family members, she is able to
becoming an official member While at the Federal Law on crutches for support. She continue a career of serving and
of the tribe’s Public Safety
Enforcement Training Center in helped out with various office protecting.

LAWSUIT The Chehalis shareholders of corporations.
From page 1 Tribe Federal funding for tribal programs
continues is historically low, which has
These services are critical to tribal to disperse caused tribal needs to go unmet.
communities in response to the much-needed The funds allocated as part of
COVID-19 crisis. COVID-19 the CARES Act was meant for
On April 13, the Department aid supplies tribes that provide services to its
of Treasury published on its to the enrolled members, not dividends
website a certification form for community to shareholders or any other non-
eligible entities to complete. amid the governmental entity.
This confirmed its intent to treat pandemic and “The notion that corporations
Alaska Native Corporations subsequent incorporated under state law
(ANCs) as “tribal governments” for stay-at-home should be considered Tribal
the purpose of making payments order. governments is shocking and
under Title V of the CARES Act. will come at the expense of tribal
On April 17, the Chehalis Tribe governments, who are responsible
and Tulalip Tribe of Washington government-to-government “We are opposed to any for providing critical needs such as
joined efforts with the Houlton relationship with the U.S. effort to consider Alaska Native healthcare, housing, and education
Band of Maliseet Indians in Maine According to the tribal Corporations or other entities to their citizens,” said Teri Gobin,
and three federally recognized governments, if the Treasury not on the list of federally Chairwoman of the Tulalip
Indian tribes in Alaska to file a Department gives funds that were recognized Indian tribes as a Tribes. “We are struggling right
lawsuit to prevent the Treasury set aside to provide relief for tribes ‘tribal government’ under the now because we have no revenue
Department from using tribal to ANCs, it will diminish funding CARES Act relief fund,” said coming in, and it’s going to take
funds to support corporations or available for tribal governments. Harry Pickernell Sr., Chairman years to recover,” Gobin added.
non-government entities. The opposition to Treasury’s of the Chehalis Tribe. “We do, The tribes’ lawsuit does not
The Alaska co-plaintiffs are inclusion of ANCs is because they however, fully support the ability seek any delay of Treasury’s
the Akiak Native Community, the are considered state-chartered of tribal governments to transfer statutory requirement to
Asa’carsarmiut Tribe, and the Aleut and state-regulated private any relief funds that they receive distribute funding to Tribal
Community of St. Paul Island. The business corporations, not tribal from Treasury to ANCs or other governments by the CARES Act
five parties are requesting the court governments as directed in the non-governmental entities if those deadline of April 27, 2020. Rather,
issue an injunction against the CARES Act. tribal governments determine that the Tribes’ request that the Court
illegal disbursements. Leaders from the Chehalis is in their best interest.” order Treasury to disperse all $8
There are 574 federally Tribe and Tulalip Tribe provided The federal government has billion to Tribal governments, but
recognized tribes within the statements in opposition to the specific trust laws in place with not to ANCs, in accordance with
United States that hold a recent ANC considerations. federally recognized tribes, not the CARES Act.